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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About being charged for missed appointment?

449 replies

Buttercupdaisies · 27/05/2023 09:57

For several months I’ve had a weekly appointment somewhere. This week, I had to go into hospital as am 33 weeks pregnant and had an injury (all was fine.) I rang up and explained and apologised.

They have just charged my card the full amount. I suspect a lot or people will say I am BU but I don’t feel great about it, tbh. Just wondered what the consensus was.

OP posts:
marblesnottobefound · 27/05/2023 10:32

Irridescantshimmmer · 27/05/2023 10:28

It seems like pregnancy discrimination to fine you for a missed appointment, after all you would have had to be seen at the hospital as an emergency and for the safety of your unborn child.

To fine you because of this seems unethical, so I suggest you speak either to your local councillor or contact citizens advice bureau who can help you with this.

Genuinely intrigued, would it be "body discrimination" if a non pregnant person had an emergency?

If I had a medical emergency which was just as valid as a pregnant patients, I don't see citizens advice offering me help in this regard?

TeaYarn · 27/05/2023 10:33

Just tell them you’re vulnerable and this payment has put you in financial difficulty. I stand refund.

110APiccadilly · 27/05/2023 10:33

I think it depends how much notice you gave. I do some private tutoring and if people cancel I do offer to refund but it is a pain if it's short notice. At least in my case, the prep work I've done can normally just be used for the next session. If that wasn't the case it would be even more annoying.

Oysterbabe · 27/05/2023 10:33

Yabu.
They still have to pay staff and overheads and now have an empty slot. Why should they have to suck up that loss.

gamerchick · 27/05/2023 10:34

Places need notice to fill a spot. They don't want to lose money with people bailing on them, no matter what the reason. It's unfortunate that you want to cancel completely but it's just the way it is.

BungleandGeorge · 27/05/2023 10:34

Yes they can do it. However I do agree that as a regular customer with a very legitimate and urgent reason they should have waived the fee as a one off. Perhaps they are busy and won’t miss you but I’d be considering going elsewhere

gamerchick · 27/05/2023 10:35

TeaYarn · 27/05/2023 10:33

Just tell them you’re vulnerable and this payment has put you in financial difficulty. I stand refund.

Ridiculous and a blatant lie Hmm

Sandylanes69 · 27/05/2023 10:35

TeaYarn · 27/05/2023 10:33

Just tell them you’re vulnerable and this payment has put you in financial difficulty. I stand refund.

She was going to pay it anyway! So could clearly afford it. It's a weekly appointment. Vulnerable, hahaha.

Timeforchangeithink · 27/05/2023 10:35

Irridescantshimmmer · 27/05/2023 10:28

It seems like pregnancy discrimination to fine you for a missed appointment, after all you would have had to be seen at the hospital as an emergency and for the safety of your unborn child.

To fine you because of this seems unethical, so I suggest you speak either to your local councillor or contact citizens advice bureau who can help you with this.

Behave! This is the type of culture and attitude that makes mockery of all the rights people have fought for. OP cancelled an appointment without due notice. Pregnancy discrimination indeed.

VickyInTheVipersNest · 27/05/2023 10:35

Buttercupdaisies · 27/05/2023 10:11

I know and I can understand it from their point of view. But equally the lack of goodwill and I suppose trust has made me inclined not to go back. So they have ‘gained’ £30 but ‘lost’ a lot more going forwards.

Yes, I think I'd feel the same tbh

I go to a couple of beauty salons who technically have a 24 hour cancellation policy. But if something out of my control like illness or injury happens, they let me cancel without charge. I keep going back and have only had to cancel a couple of times in the years I've been going. So I do think it makes more sense to show some goodwill.

But maybe they have a lot of chancers. You being a regular though would make me keen not to lose you as a customer if it was my business

MolkosTeenageAngst · 27/05/2023 10:36

Do you work? If for unforeseen circumstances your workplace had to shut early and you weren’t able to carry out your job wouldn’t you still expect to be paid? If you cancelled without enough notice for the business or individual to fill your slot then it’s entirely reasonable for them to charge you, why should they go without income because of your issue? What if all of their customers across the week had an unforeseen circumstance and cancelled last minute, should the business or individual just go without a weeks wages?

IhearyouClemFandango · 27/05/2023 10:36

Tbh, as a regular customer given the circumstances I would expect a little more grace on their part.

Parker231 · 27/05/2023 10:36

Irridescantshimmmer · 27/05/2023 10:28

It seems like pregnancy discrimination to fine you for a missed appointment, after all you would have had to be seen at the hospital as an emergency and for the safety of your unborn child.

To fine you because of this seems unethical, so I suggest you speak either to your local councillor or contact citizens advice bureau who can help you with this.

It’s not discrimination. If you cancel an appointment (for any reason) outside the cancellation window, you are charged. Why should the business incur costs when you don’t turn up?

marblesnottobefound · 27/05/2023 10:36

There's every chance that when you're next in, they'll will comp the appt & say they were able to fill your appt or waive it. I think this would be exceptionally kind though.

Parker231 · 27/05/2023 10:38

IhearyouClemFandango · 27/05/2023 10:36

Tbh, as a regular customer given the circumstances I would expect a little more grace on their part.

Why? Is the member of staff who turned up for work to do this appointment not to be paid?

ThinWomansBrain · 27/05/2023 10:38

TeaYarn · 27/05/2023 10:33

Just tell them you’re vulnerable and this payment has put you in financial difficulty. I stand refund.

If the OP was going anyway, why would the payment have put her in financial difficulty?
Makes it sound as if she cancelled the appointment because she couldn't afford it, and the hospital was a fiction.

OrwellianTimes · 27/05/2023 10:39

You understand that they will loose income if you cancel? They also might have a waiting list.

Summerslimtime · 27/05/2023 10:39

I'd feel the same, op. Not everyone has to agree. An A&E trip is different to just not turning up. The business owner needs to weigh up that they may lose future business due to this.

AngelasAirpods · 27/05/2023 10:40

You’ve not shown them any goodwill either if you didn’t turn up or give notice.

It sounds petty of you not to go back, it’s a harsh lesson learned.

Asparename · 27/05/2023 10:40

Actually given that you are a regular customer and it was an emergency hospital appointment, it would have been nice if they hadn’t charged you. I had a hairdresser who used to charge for missed appointments ( I never did) but on at least two occasions rang me up on the morning to cancel my appointment. How easy is it to find someone else to do the appointment? I think I’d go elsewhere.

Beneficialchampion2 · 27/05/2023 10:41

Buttercupdaisies · 27/05/2023 10:18

I do get that. I just suppose as a reliable customer some goodwill would have been nice and would have meant I’d have continued to go.

It's a tricky one

They're not running a charity but I take on your point. Problem is you get people that take the piss with non genuine emergencies and your trust ends up being abused. It's easier to stick to your terms in the long run.

FloweryName · 27/05/2023 10:41

How long before the appointment did you phone them to cancel?

They might have no problem filling your weekly slot going forwards but have been unable to fill your slot at the last minute and it that case, it’s completely normal that they would charge you for your missed appointment. There’s no reason for you to assume that they will miss out on anything if you don’t go to your future appointments, and with a baby on the way you probably wouldn’t have been able to go every week anyway.

DysmalRadius · 27/05/2023 10:42

It comes down to who should bear the costs of cancellations associated with your pregnancy - you or a business you frequent?

LemonjeIIo · 27/05/2023 10:43

Buttercupdaisies · 27/05/2023 10:11

I know and I can understand it from their point of view. But equally the lack of goodwill and I suppose trust has made me inclined not to go back. So they have ‘gained’ £30 but ‘lost’ a lot more going forwards.

Do not go back. But please, ring and cancel and say that you wish to cancel your weekly appointments. Hopefully they will ask you if there is a problem. Then, tell them exactly why you are cancelling.

Please update us to what they say

ODFODeary · 27/05/2023 10:46

I can see your point but at the end of it they are a business
Glad you and the baby are OK though @Buttercupdaisies